Traveling-case.



G. M. HOLLINGSWORTH.

TRAVELING CASE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 10, 1912.

I 1,094,207. Patented Apr. 21,1914.

INVENTOR F Emuywp zfiy aill follinyswarfiz I 7 BY W52 COLUMBIAPLANOURAPH co., WASHINGTON. n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT ornron.

CHARLES M. I-IOLLINGSWORTH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TRAVELING-CASE.

ooaeov.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. I-IoL- LINGSWORTH, residing atYVashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Traveling- Cases, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to suit cases and the like, and it primarily hasfor its object to provide certain attachments for suit cases in thenature of an improved handle device and umbrella holder, so arrangedthat the case may be carried in the ordinary way i. 6., with itsgreatest length horizontally directed, or it may be up-ended and carriedin the vertical position, the means for holding the umbrella on the casebeing so designed as to retain the umbrella in position regardless ofwhether the case be up-ended or carried in its ordinary way. Inaddition, means may also be provided for positively gripping theumbrella when the case is up-ended to positively hold the umbrella fromslipping downwardly under the influence of gravity and furthermore, areceiving cup for the umbrella tip may be employed to restrain theumbrella from downward movement when the case is carried vertically.

My invention also includes those novel details of construction,combination and arrangement of parts all of which will be first fullydescribed, and then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aperspective View showing my invention in use with the suit case andumbrella carried in the ordinary way. Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofthe invention in use with the case carried in its up-ended position.Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the top side of thecase with the invention applied and the umbrella gripper released (thelock and clasps of the suit case being omitted to more clearly show theparts behind). Fi 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the position ofthe parts when the gripper is put in action. Fig. '5 is a cross sectionon the line 55 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view showingthe umbrellatip in its cup. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of amodification of the gripper part of my invention. Fig. 8 is a crosssection of the same. Fig. 9 is a detail vertical section on the line 99of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed September 10, 1912.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

Serial No. 719,558.

of one end of the handle member showing one of the adjustable fastenersemployed. Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of the achustablefastener or resilient core device. Fig. 12 is a central verticallongitudinal section (parts being broken away) of the parts as shown inposition illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 13 is a detail View showing ashield for the umbrella holder, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the drawings in which like numerals of reference designate like partsin all the figures, 1 is the'case body, 2 the lid, 3 the lock, and 4 theusual clasps, all of which may be of the ordinary construction.

The handle forming member (which per 80 forms no part of the presentinvention, but forms the subject matter of my Patent #1,04-7,941, issuedDecember 24, 1912), includes the top handle forming section 6, the endhandle section 7 and the intermediate connecting part 5 which passesbeneath the intermediate cross straps 88, while the ends of the handleforming sections 6 and 7 pass beneath the end cross members 99 in whichthey are held from relative movement preferably by an adjustablefastening device.

In order to enable slack (due to stretching in the handle forming memberwhich is usually constructed of leather) to be taken up, the ends wherethey pass beneath the straps or plates 9 are doubled under (see Fig. 9),around a retaining device or fastener which consists of a core part 11,and a spring member 13 folded over the core part, the spring membertending to press the folded or doubled back portion of the handleend,up'against the plate 9 and the under plate 10 when such is employed, tohold, by retaining friction, the handle end from movement under theplate 9 during normal use of the case. In order to prevent thewithdrawal of the pin 11 through the fold 12 of the member 13, the pinends may carry disks 14 (see Fig. 7), or they may be united by aU-shaped bridge piece 15 (see Fig. 11) which latter piece 15 also servesto retain the core member on the strap.

Secured to the top side of the case 2'. e. that part which is usuallyuppermost in carrying, and near one end of the case, is a pair ofsockets 16 to receive and hold, preferably with retaining friction, aresilient clip 17 which consists of a piece of spring Wire of U-shape,whose ends are inserted in the sockets 16, and whose bend 18 is turnedupwardly slightly to facilitate the entrance of the umbrella 31, Asecond set of sockets 19, and a second clip 20 with up-turned bend 21,may be mounted on the top side of the case near the other end to clipover the umbrella, the two bend ends 18 and 21 being opposed to oneanother with the handle member 26 located between the same, but to oneside thereof. In practice the clips 17 and 20 are preferably located inalinement, and, at the end of the top side opposite the handle end, thesuit case is provided with a cup 22 into which the tip 32 of theumbrella may rest when the case is carried any distance, in its up-endedposition (see Fig. 6).

In order to insure the positive holding of the umbrella on the suitcase, when it is upended, I provide a gripper that operates inconjunction with the handle member to effect a positive pressure orgripping action of the umbrella when the case is carried by the endhandle section 7. The gripper includes a U portion 23 having fulcrum orshaft like members 25 that are mounted in bearing sockets 2 1, on thecase 1. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the gripper also includes alever loop 26 that is engaged by the underside of the handle section 6to which it may be movably secured by an elongated eye or bridge member27, while in the form shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the gripper includes asecond U portion 29 to be engaged by the handle member 6, and it alsoincludes a third bearing or fulcrum 30 and a bearing socket 28, thusgiving greater strength with less liability of twist than in thepreceding form. In the latter form, the member 29 (as also the member 26of the preceding form) may or may not be secured to the handle section26 by a device 27 or the like, such as is shown in Fig. 5.

In operation, the case is usually carried horizontally, as shown in Fig.l, with the umbrella so located that the handle 33 will project beyondone end of the case a given distance, While the tip 32 will project anequal distance beyond the other end. While thus carried, the gripperdoes not exert any effect on the umbrella, which latter is then held inplace solely by the tips 17 and 20. When, however, the case is up-endedand the operator grasps the end handle 7 (the umbrella being moved tobring its tip within the bounds of the case either by setting the casedown on the ground as shown in Fig. 2 or by raising the umbrella byhand), the handle section (5 is flattened against the case, therebyexerting a pressure in the direction of the arrow 34,

in Fig. 41, to rock the gripper toward the case and thereby grip theumbrella against the case, thus securely holding the same from slippingdown,

If the user wishes to carry the ease upended for a considerable distanceand also in order to protect the tip 32, I provide a cup 22 on the caseinto which the tip 32 may be set, as indicated in Fig. 0 of the drawing.

By the use of my invention, the annoyances and inconvenience incidentalto entcring street cars, railroad cars, and in ascending and descendingsteps is largely eliminated since the user can carry the case upendedand thus render its transportation much easier.

When the gripper is employed in connection with the clip 17, the clip 20may be omitted if desired, as the U portion 23 of the gripper willprevent lateral movement of the umbrella when the case is carried asshown in Fig. 1, and the clip 17 will tend to hold the umbrella. incontact with the case and prevent its longitudinal movement. However, Iprefer employing both members 17 and 20 to insure the retention of theumbrella in position on the case when carried in its normal position,indicated in Fig. 1.

If desired a shield 86 may be provided on the umbrella engaging member(see Fig. 13 for example) so as to prevent rufiiing the umbrella Manyslight changes in the details of construction, design and arrangement,-of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventionor scope of the ap pended claims.

Vhat I claim is 1. A case having a top and an end portion, combined witha handle member mounted on the top and end to form a top handle and anend handle by which the case may be carried either horizontally orvertically, an umbrella holding clip mounted on the top, and a gripperfor engaging the umbrella and cooperative with said handle member forretaining said umbrella when the case is carried vertically.

2. The combination of a traveling case with a handle member including atop handle section and an end handle section, of means cooperative withsaid handle member for retaining an umbrella on the case top when thecase is up-ended and carried by the end handle member.

3. The combination of a traveling case with a handle member having a tophandle section and an end handle section, and means connecting saidhandle sections together, in virtue of which when one handle section isin use the other handle section will be held flatwise against the caseand vice versa,an umbrella retaining device mounted on the case adjacentto one handle section, and including a member for gripping the umbrella,and connections between said member and the adjacent handle section foreifecting the operation of said member.

4:. In a traveling case, the combination of a top and an end handleforming member and a connection between said members, an umbrella guidemounted on the case adjacent to one of said handle members, and meanscooperative with one of said handle members for gripping the umbrella tothe case when the end handle member is grasped to hold the case in aposition to bring said umbrella into a vertical position.

5. The combination of a traveling case with a top handle member and anend handle member and a connection between said members, an umbrellaguide mounted on said case and adjacent to one handle member for holdingan umbrella in position on said case, and means cooperative with one ofsaid handle members for gripping the umbrella to the case when said caseis held in a posi tion to bring said umbrella into a vertical position.

6. In a traveling case, a handle forming strap having one end secured tothe top of the case and the other end secured to one end of the case,guide straps secured on the case through which said handle strap passesto form a top handle section or on end handle section according as saidstrap is gripped on the top of the case or its end, and meanscooperative with said strap for holding an umbrella on the case.

7 In a traveling case, a handle forming strap having one end secured tothe top of the case, and the other end secured to one end of the case,guide straps secured on the case through which said handle strap passesto form a top handle section or an end handle section according as saidstrap is gripped on the top of the case or its end, and a grip- V pingdevice mounted on the case adjacent to one of the handle portions ofsaid strap, and including a member engagedby said handle strap toefi'ect the gripping act.

8. In a traveling case, a handle member, and means by which said handlemember may be drawn longitudinally toward the body of the case, combinedwith an umbrella retaining means cooperatively engaged by said handlemember to grip the umbrella as said handle member is flattened againstthe case. a

9. In a traveling case, a handle member mounted on the case, means bywhich said handle member may be flattened against the case, an umbrellaretaining device mounted on the case, and including a membercooperatively projecting into the path of movement of said handlewhereby when said handle is flattened against the case, said grippingdevice will be operated.

10. The combination of a traveling case with a handle member, includinga top handle section and an end handle section, and a connection betweensaid handle sections by means of which when one handle section isgripped by the operator the other handle section will be flattenedagainst the case, of an umbrella retaining device mounted on said case,and a connection between said device and said handle member whereby whenone of said handle member sections is flattened against the case saidconnection will be operated to cause said device to grip the umbrella.

CHARLES M. HOLLINGSWORTH.

Witnesses:

N. CURTIS LAMMONDS, A. E. DmTEnIoH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of I'atents, Washington, D. G.

